You might get tired of hearing all those adages (how many times have you read that Coachella is a marathon, not a sprint?), the fact remains that the festival life is an exhausting one. Whether this is your first time at the fest or you’re an old pro, here’s a rundown of the things you need to know to have the best experience possible this year.

Don’t leave home without:

A water bottle. Every Coachella survival guide you read will have this same bullet point, but that’s for a reason. You will be outside, in the desert, directly in the sun, for hours at a time. Drink lots of water and stay in the shade when you can. You can bring in your own reusable water bottle (no metal ones) and refill it for free at stations around the festival.

Sunscreen. This point bears repeating. You will be outside, in the desert, directly in the sun, for hours at a time. I promise you’ll still get tan with some SPF protection. And you’ll be able to enjoy days two and three way more if you’re not nursing a full-body sunburn from day one.

Festival goers wait in line for security searches before entering the festival grounds on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Field in Indio.(Photo: Crystal Chatham, The Desert Sun)

A bandanna. It gets dusty out at the polo fields and if you don’t have something to protect your face, you’ll end up sick, or at the very least with a racking cough for the next two weeks. Also, you can use your bandanna to mop up that drink you spill all over yourself or douse it with water and tie it around your forehead to help keep you cool in the afternoon.

A game plan. Coachella can be overwhelming, no matter how many times you’ve been. Before you go, figure out your transportation situation, figure out which sets you cannot miss and pick a rendezvous point with your friends so you know where to go to find them when you inevitably get separated.

Pro tips:

The desert gets cold at night. Toss a light jacket or long-sleeved shirt into your bag.

Activate your wristband with the Coachella app ASAP. You don’t want to be the person standing outside the gates, searching for signal.

Music fans attend day 2 of the 2015 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Weekend 1) at the Empire Polo Club on April 11, 2015 in Indio, California.(Photo: Jason Kempin, Getty Images)

Other sage wisdom:

Sometimes Coachella can seem more like a fashion show than a music festival. But don’t wear anything you’re not comfortable in. You’ll end up worrying about your outfit more than enjoying the music. We promise no one will remember what you wear.

If you have a portable phone charger, bring it. There are charging stations at the festival but you’ll miss out on the music while you stand and wait for everyone else to finish charging their phones.

Get into the festival grounds early on day one and walk around. Figure out where all the stages are, where the good bathrooms and the medical tent are and what non-music tents you want to visit. You’ll thank yourself later for learning the layout.

Ultimately, have fun. Now take these tips, go forth, and festival it up.